White Fang is a half dog, half wolf. He goes through rough and hard times (left on his own as pup, bullied by other dogs/wolfs)
He becomes very lonely and unloving. Then suddenly a young man offers him friendship and kindness...
I think the story will be about the life of White Fang through his eyes and how he discovers real friendship.
London. J, 1906, White Fang, Viking books for young readers, New York
Scene Discription
Dark spruce forest frowned on either side the frozen waterway. The trees had ben stripped by a recent wind of their white covering of frost and they seemed tolean toward each other, black and ominous, in the fading light. A vast silence reigned over the land. The land itself was a desolation, lifeless, without movement,so lone and cold that the spirit of it was not even laughter more terrible than any sadness-a laughter that was mirthless as the smle of the Sphinx, a laughter cold as the frost and partaking of the grimness of infallibility. It was the masterful and incommunicable wisdom of eternity laughing at the futility of life and the effort of life.It was the Wild, the savage, frozen-hearted of Northland Wild.
Popular book:
Bridie's Fire
Questions:
Classic:White FangAuthor:Jack London
Modern: Bridie's Fire Author: Kirsty Murray
1. Describe the time and place in which your novel is set. What clues within the book tell us this?
Says very clearly where the book is set. Most of the time in Alaska and later at the end of the book in San Fransico (America)
The time I'm not sure about, they still have horse and carts and they still use dogsleds, but they also have the cars (really old, simple ones) The book was also first published in 1906. So I think the story is set late in the 19th century.
The book is set in Ireland and in Australia.
It is set when there was great hunger in Ireland, which was in 1845 to 1849 . The book is not only set in one year but many years, cause Bridie is about 11 at the start of the book and at the end she is about 15/16.
2. Who are the main characters in your book? List the names and a short description of their personality traits.
White Fang (who is half dog, half wolf) is the main character, the whole book is about his life. He goes trough lots of tough times in his life, left alone as pup, bullied by camp dogs, sold to a criminal who makes him fight against other dogs. This all turns him into an unloving, lonely and ferocious dog/wolf. When he gets offered friendship and love by a young man who takes care of him, the hardness stays in him, but he learns how to love and play.
Gray Beaver, one of the main leaders in the Indian Camp. Gray Beaver becomes White Fang owner when he joins the Indians. He protected White Fang from the other dogs and gave him extra meat. But that was all he gave, no love he gave and if White Fang made a mistake he would punish him for that.
Beauty Smith, no one knew his first name and his mates calledd him beauty, but he wasn't anything close to beautiful. He was ugly from the outside, but also from the inside. He was a horrible and evil criminal. He bought White Fang from Gray Beaver, because he liked how furious and strong the wolf/dog could get. Beauty Smith would 'enjoy' kicking, hitting, wipping White Fang and see him suffer. And he would laugh at White Fang, which White Fang hated most of all!
Weedon Scott, is an mining expert (rich) And he frees White Fang from Beauty Smith (won't say how, other wise I spoil the story, for you who want to read it) He is a caring and a loving person. Helps White Fang to become calm and himself again instead of a wild beast. He teaches him the rules by not punishing, but rewarding. He shows him what real friendship is and gives him love, something White Fang needed and didn't get all his life.
Bridie is the main character. The book is about how she survives the hunger and how she leaves Ireland to find a better place. (Australia) Bridie is very caring and very brave. She tried to take care of her mother and her brother as long as she good. And she is very brave for all the things she does to try and save them and herself.
Brandon is Bridie's little brother. Brandon looks up to his sister and relies on her. He can be very brave and tough going through hard times like when his dad and baby brother died and he had to leave his mum, but deep inside he was still a little boy. Without Bridie he would never have survived.
Sadly they get split at the workhouse and when Bridie leaves to Australia, she has no idea what happens with her brother.
3. Describe the significant relationships between the main characters.
White Fang and his mum (Kiche). When he was a little pup the relation ship was very strong and he relied fully on his mum. But his mum got taken away from him and like in the wild after about a year she didn't recognize him when she came back.
Gray Beaveer and White Fang don't have a loving relationship (like a dog has with his owner) But White Fang feels faithfull to Gray Beaver. White Fang gives protection to him and his properties and obeys Grey Beaver in trade for that he gets somewhere to sleep, warm fire and most importantly food.
Beauty Smith and White Fang have a hateful relationship. Beauty Smith would hurt White Fang, laugh at him and he put him in a cage and only let him out to fight. These fights are against other dogs or wild animals. The fights are to death, the one who survives win. White Fang hates Beauty Smith for all this.
Weedon Scott is the first one who gives White Fang real friendship and love. They have a great relation, like all the dogs and owners should have. White Fang can later not live without Weedon Scott and Weedon Scott loves White Fang as much as White Fang loves him. To only Weedon White Fang gives a special note to his growl. The note of happiness and love.
Brandon and Bridie, Brandon is Bridie's little brother. They have a very strong bond together. Bridie and Brandon both leave their homes with their mum and Paddy (baby brother) to find food. Paddy and their mum sadly die, because of the hunger. Brandon then really relies on Bridie and tries to stay strong. Brandon and Bridie make it to the workhouse, were they get sheltered and food. Sadly they get separated, because Brandon has to work/live with the boys and Bridie with the girls. Once Bridie moves to Australia they, bridie tries to send letters, but she doesn't get reply (they cant really read or write) so she doesn't know how it is with Brandon. But she always thinks about him and loves him very much.
Bridie and Gilbert are friends, Bridie is the kitchenmaid for Gilbert's family and later for his sister. Gilbert was the only one (with his sister) that was nice to Bride, also because Gilbert loved it when Bridie would tell him Irish tales. That's wehn they became good friends. When Gilbert's dad wants to send him back to England, Bridie and Gilbert decide to run of together in search for gold.
Bridie and Caitlin are friends, they meet each other when Bridie goes to the workhouse in Ireland. Caitlin is the one who protects her from doing stupid things and persuades her to go to Australia with her. Bridie fully relies on Caitlin, who has lived in the workhouse much longer to now what to do. Because Bridie also first couldn't speak good English at all or write, that is what Caitlin also helped her with.
4. Who is your favourite character and why? Or - Who is the character that you can most closely relate to and why?
White Fang, he is the character the whole book is about. But in some way I can feel how he feels when I read the book, because you get to know who he really is, not just a ferioucous wolf. I think I can relate to him the most, going through hard times and trying to never give up.
On the other hand I really like Weedon Scott aswell, he is the own that showed to White Fang that their are also good things in life. He gives the dog a second chance, a home, a family, kindness and most importantly love.
I like Bridie, because she is very caring. She cares about her family and friends and does everything to keep them happy (and alive) She is also very very brave, leaving to Australia and then later running away from were she works. She never gives up and follows her heart.
5. Describe the style of language and literary devices that the author uses. a) Find examples of; colourful adjectives, similes, metaphor, dramatic irony, etc.. b) Find a quote (with page number) for each example.
White Fang is written a 100 years ago, which makes the language pretty old.There are a lot of words I had never heard from before, because there old fashioned or just difficult and you don't use them very often. The book is full of adjectives and similes, because the author really wants to give you a picture of what is happening and he really wants you to feel how White Fang feels. Here a few examples:
'It was the master and incommunicable wisdom of eternity laughing at the futility of life and the effort of life' (page 1, describing the forest - see Scene discription)
'A laugher that was mirthless as the smile of the Sphinx' (page 1 - simile, describing forest - see Scene discription)
'grimness of infallibity' (page 1)
'needle-like shrillness' (page 2)
'a recrudescene of anger glinted in his eyes
The language in Bridie's fire is pretty modern, because it has only just has been written. But because it is set a long time ago, when the people speak it has a few old touches to it and because it is set in Ireland also Irish slang is used, like:
Boyo,
Mamai and Papai,
bucko,
Tir na nOg
The book isn't as detailed at describing things as in White Fang. There are also a lot more conversations in the book, but of course also adjectives, to tell you what it looks like or sounds like.
slackening pace,
eerily still,
6. Is your book an example of ‘classic’ or ‘modern’ literature? You must use evidence to back up your stance. For example; has your book stood the ‘test of time’? Are there theme’s that will transcend time?
White Fang is a classic book. It has stood the test of time, knowing that is was first published in 1906. The story line is different from most books, it is about life through a half dog/half wolf. In some of these stories the dog is more a human, but in this book it is a real dog or wolf, it can not talk and it doesn't think like a human at all. It explains everything in exact detail, which makes it also very very interesting. The book has quiet hard language in it, with a lot of hard words, but using those gives you a better picture of what something looks like or how White Fang feels and why. Using colorful adjectives, different ways of describing somethings, like a wolf would see it. It is like you are closely looking at White Fang, how his life is and sometimes it even feels like you are White Fang. You can relate to it in someway (not that your a dog) but exploring the world, learning something new each day, making friends, but also enemies.
This is a modern book. It hasn't been written a long long time ago, like most classic books. Even though it is set a few hundred years ago, doesn't mean its a classic book. I don't know if my book will stand the test of time. On one hand it is different a story about a Irish girl who survives the hunger and goes to Australia to find a job and food. Also some of the Irish slang gives a nice touch. On the other hand it is written like most other modern book, quiet easy to read and using a lot of the modern words, there are not a lot of colourful adjectives that would stand out or interesting words.
7. After reading the book, write a short note to a friend describing the book. Include a description of the genre, setting and difficulty level. You need to also include the following information; What were the main themes in the book? What was the central conflict? How was it resolved? Describe your feelings towards the novel. Did you enjoy it, why or why not? Did you find it easy to get into? Did you like it the more that you read it? Would you read more books by the same author, or of a similar genre?
White Fang
The book is about the life of a half wolf/half dog called White Fang. It is different from most books, because you see life through his eyes like a dog (not like in movies, a dog who acts like a human) How he explores the unknown world and what tough times do to him. It shows why everybody, including dogs need love. And the story is about White Fang going through life, with no love, nobody who cares about him, he becomes very lonely unloving and wild. This is when he gets left alone as a pup, bullied by other dogs and sold to a crazy criminal. Then Weedon Scott comes and offers him kindness, friendship and love. But White Fang doesn't know what that is (cause he never got it when he needed it) Its a whole new thing to discover.
I took me a while to get into the book, especially at the beginning it was hard, because they first tell about the parents and how life is in Alaska. When you get further in the book it gets much better, because you know exactly how White Fang feels, because you know every detail of his life. So you do have to be patience and not straight away, put the book aside.
Like I said I first thought the book was really boring, but later I really had a fealling I was White Fang and his tough life made me sad and angry at some people (like the criminal) How could they do this? At the end I was really happy I read the book, cause it gave me a different view of the world.
Bridie's Fire
The book is about Bridie, a girl who lives in the time of the great hunger in Ireland. She tries everything to save her family from starvation. Sadly her dad, brother and mum die and she and Brandon have to try and survive on their own. Bridie makes to a workhouse with her brother, sadly there they get separeted to a girls section and boys section. Bridie makes new friends like Caitlin, but she wants to see her brother and live happily ever after. When she gets offered to go to Australia, she takes the offer and goes their to start a whole new life.
It didn't take me long to get into this book. You straight away get thrown into the book and feel like Bridie, especially when her baby brother dies.
Classic book:
White Fang
White Fang is a half dog, half wolf. He goes through rough and hard times (left on his own as pup, bullied by other dogs/wolfs)
He becomes very lonely and unloving. Then suddenly a young man offers him friendship and kindness...
I think the story will be about the life of White Fang through his eyes and how he discovers real friendship.
London. J, 1906, White Fang, Viking books for young readers, New York
Scene Discription
Dark spruce forest frowned on either side the frozen waterway. The trees had ben stripped by a recent wind of their white covering of frost and they seemed to lean toward each other, black and ominous, in the fading light. A vast silence reigned over the land. The land itself was a desolation, lifeless, without movement, so lone and cold that the spirit of it was not even laughter more terrible than any sadness-a laughter that was mirthless as the smle of the Sphinx, a laughter cold as the frost and partaking of the grimness of infallibility. It was the masterful and incommunicable wisdom of eternity laughing at the futility of life and the effort of life. It was the Wild, the savage, frozen-hearted of Northland Wild.Popular book:
Bridie's Fire
Author: Kirsty Murray
The time I'm not sure about, they still have horse and carts and they still use dogsleds, but they also have the cars (really old, simple ones) The book was also first published in 1906. So I think the story is set late in the 19th century.
It is set when there was great hunger in Ireland, which was in 1845 to 1849 . The book is not only set in one year but many years, cause Bridie is about 11 at the start of the book and at the end she is about 15/16.
Gray Beaver, one of the main leaders in the Indian Camp. Gray Beaver becomes White Fang owner when he joins the Indians. He protected White Fang from the other dogs and gave him extra meat. But that was all he gave, no love he gave and if White Fang made a mistake he would punish him for that.
Beauty Smith, no one knew his first name and his mates calledd him beauty, but he wasn't anything close to beautiful. He was ugly from the outside, but also from the inside. He was a horrible and evil criminal. He bought White Fang from Gray Beaver, because he liked how furious and strong the wolf/dog could get. Beauty Smith would 'enjoy' kicking, hitting, wipping White Fang and see him suffer. And he would laugh at White Fang, which White Fang hated most of all!
Weedon Scott, is an mining expert (rich) And he frees White Fang from Beauty Smith (won't say how, other wise I spoil the story, for you who want to read it) He is a caring and a loving person. Helps White Fang to become calm and himself again instead of a wild beast. He teaches him the rules by not punishing, but rewarding. He shows him what real friendship is and gives him love, something White Fang needed and didn't get all his life.
Brandon is Bridie's little brother. Brandon looks up to his sister and relies on her. He can be very brave and tough going through hard times like when his dad and baby brother died and he had to leave his mum, but deep inside he was still a little boy. Without Bridie he would never have survived.
Sadly they get split at the workhouse and when Bridie leaves to Australia, she has no idea what happens with her brother.
Gray Beaveer and White Fang don't have a loving relationship (like a dog has with his owner) But White Fang feels faithfull to Gray Beaver. White Fang gives protection to him and his properties and obeys Grey Beaver in trade for that he gets somewhere to sleep, warm fire and most importantly food.
Beauty Smith and White Fang have a hateful relationship. Beauty Smith would hurt White Fang, laugh at him and he put him in a cage and only let him out to fight. These fights are against other dogs or wild animals. The fights are to death, the one who survives win. White Fang hates Beauty Smith for all this.
Weedon Scott is the first one who gives White Fang real friendship and love. They have a great relation, like all the dogs and owners should have. White Fang can later not live without Weedon Scott and Weedon Scott loves White Fang as much as White Fang loves him. To only Weedon White Fang gives a special note to his growl. The note of happiness and love.
Bridie and Gilbert are friends, Bridie is the kitchenmaid for Gilbert's family and later for his sister. Gilbert was the only one (with his sister) that was nice to Bride, also because Gilbert loved it when Bridie would tell him Irish tales. That's wehn they became good friends. When Gilbert's dad wants to send him back to England, Bridie and Gilbert decide to run of together in search for gold.
Bridie and Caitlin are friends, they meet each other when Bridie goes to the workhouse in Ireland. Caitlin is the one who protects her from doing stupid things and persuades her to go to Australia with her. Bridie fully relies on Caitlin, who has lived in the workhouse much longer to now what to do. Because Bridie also first couldn't speak good English at all or write, that is what Caitlin also helped her with.
On the other hand I really like Weedon Scott aswell, he is the own that showed to White Fang that their are also good things in life. He gives the dog a second chance, a home, a family, kindness and most importantly love.
a) Find examples of; colourful adjectives, similes, metaphor, dramatic irony, etc..
b) Find a quote (with page number) for each example.
'It was the master and incommunicable wisdom of eternity laughing at the futility of life and the effort of life' (page 1, describing the forest - see Scene discription)
'A laugher that was mirthless as the smile of the Sphinx' (page 1 - simile, describing forest - see Scene discription)
'grimness of infallibity' (page 1)
'needle-like shrillness' (page 2)
'a recrudescene of anger glinted in his eyes
Boyo,
Mamai and Papai,
bucko,
Tir na nOg
The book isn't as detailed at describing things as in White Fang. There are also a lot more conversations in the book, but of course also adjectives, to tell you what it looks like or sounds like.
slackening pace,
eerily still,
Describe your feelings towards the novel.
Did you enjoy it, why or why not?
Did you find it easy to get into? Did you like it the more that you read it?
Would you read more books by the same author, or of a similar genre?
The book is about the life of a half wolf/half dog called White Fang. It is different from most books, because you see life through his eyes like a dog (not like in movies, a dog who acts like a human) How he explores the unknown world and what tough times do to him. It shows why everybody, including dogs need love. And the story is about White Fang going through life, with no love, nobody who cares about him, he becomes very lonely unloving and wild. This is when he gets left alone as a pup, bullied by other dogs and sold to a crazy criminal. Then Weedon Scott comes and offers him kindness, friendship and love. But White Fang doesn't know what that is (cause he never got it when he needed it) Its a whole new thing to discover.
I took me a while to get into the book, especially at the beginning it was hard, because they first tell about the parents and how life is in Alaska. When you get further in the book it gets much better, because you know exactly how White Fang feels, because you know every detail of his life. So you do have to be patience and not straight away, put the book aside.
Like I said I first thought the book was really boring, but later I really had a fealling I was White Fang and his tough life made me sad and angry at some people (like the criminal) How could they do this? At the end I was really happy I read the book, cause it gave me a different view of the world.
The book is about Bridie, a girl who lives in the time of the great hunger in Ireland. She tries everything to save her family from starvation. Sadly her dad, brother and mum die and she and Brandon have to try and survive on their own. Bridie makes to a workhouse with her brother, sadly there they get separeted to a girls section and boys section. Bridie makes new friends like Caitlin, but she wants to see her brother and live happily ever after. When she gets offered to go to Australia, she takes the offer and goes their to start a whole new life.
It didn't take me long to get into this book. You straight away get thrown into the book and feel like Bridie, especially when her baby brother dies.